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From: Tom LeTourneau <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 22:06:51 -0400
OK, I've got to be up front. I'm a proud owner of my very first fiberglass 
kayak... a CD Gulfstream, with which I have sincerely fallen in love. After 
several years of owning plastic kayaks, I made the leap. She's a beauty: 
mango deck, glossy and nearly scratchless after a month of paddling every 
other day. Like a new car owner, I haven't gotten over the jitters of 
watching every little ding and scratch appear, especially on the hull 
during rescue and rolling practice. Yes, lots of you will tell me to "get a 
life," don't get apoplexy over the inevitable. But I'm sure you can 
empathize. Everybody (I'd guess) has had a $$$ boat and wanted to keep her 
looking spiffy.

I know several of you folks do extensive work on composite boats, 
reinforcing, installing new bulkheads, etc. But for the moment, I'd just 
like to learn how to touch up the little dings in the deck, maybe prevent a 
future crack from spreading, fix a possible future, larger hull scratch.

Is there a good repair book for composite boats that's current (I've found 
two 20 year old books listed online)?
Can a good grade wax keep the deck somewhat protected? Should it be used on 
the hull? (I know someone's laughing out loud now :)

I'm careful, really. I don't drop her, don't run up on rocky beaches, 
"parallel park and exit," don't surf with her, wash her after she's been in 
the salt, etc. Still, I have nightmares of the little ding that overnight 
grew into the Grand Canyon.

Tom LeTourneau
Wells, Maine

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From: Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 19:40:40 -0700
Tom,

>From one GS owner to another CONGRATULATIONS!! My boat is three years old
and has picked up a few scratches and dings over time.

The previous owner of my boat (he had it for 2 years) is a retired fire
captain and is absolutely anal about the way he cares for his
equipment--plus he paddles with me every week and inspects the boat for any
new marks. ;-)

One trick I learned from him is to buy two cheap camp stools to put the boat
on when you get off of the water and carry fresh water to wash it down with.
Then use some 303, Armour All, or equivalent UV protectorant over the entire
boat. It works better than wax on making the scratches disappear. The 303
will wash off as easily as any good FG wax, but it really makes the boat
look good.

My boat gets used, does surf launches and landings, etc and has picked up
some scratches along the way, I still get complements almost every time I go
out, while some of my friends with newer boats don't get any.

Another tip that I learned (from Derek H) was to take some Marine Tex epoxy
and use it to build up the keel right behind the skeg box. That area gets
rubbed a lot when launching from a beach with surf and was starting to wear
down to the fiberglass. Derek said the epoxy was easier to work with and was
more abrasion resistant than gel coat.

Hope this helps and enjoy your new boat--I sure love mine.

Steve Holtzman

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom LeTourneau" <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com>


> OK, I've got to be up front. I'm a proud owner of my very first fiberglass
> kayak... a CD Gulfstream, with which I have sincerely fallen in love.
Snip............
............ Like a new car owner, I haven't gotten over the jitters of
> watching every little ding and scratch appear, especially on the hull
> during rescue and rolling practice.


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From: James W. Durkin <jwd_at_phonogram.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 00:17:29 -0500
On Wed, Jul 31, 2002 at 07:40:40PM -0700, Steve Holtzman wrote:

> One trick I learned from him is to buy two cheap camp stools to put
> the boat on when you get off of the water and carry fresh water to
> wash it down with.

Another trick along these lines that I've found to work well if you're
on relatively flat, although not necessarily level, ground is to set
the bow and stern each on a piece of foam.  What works really well is
the long, rectangular foam blocks with a shallow vee cut on the top
that are sold as cheap car topping devices for kayaks and canoes.  You
can get them in a variety of lengths, and every length I've seen fits
trivially through a kayak hatch for "take it with you" convenience.

I occasionally launch from one of the docks used by the local colleges
for varsity crew.  While convenient, they're loaded with nails that
sit just high enough above the surface to take a good hunk out of your
hull if whacked hard enough.  And, believe it or not, just leaving the
kayak on the dock when there is a good wind while one heads back to
the car to grab more gear, is enough to send the boat (at least mine)
spinning like a beenie propeller.  Foam == no more spinning boat.

-.- jwd
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From: James W. Durkin <jwd_at_phonogram.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 00:04:59 -0500
On Wed, Jul 31, 2002 at 10:06:51PM -0400, Tom LeTourneau wrote:

> Is there a good repair book for composite boats that's current (I've found 
> two 20 year old books listed online)?

It's 12:30 in the morning and I ought to be in bed, but digging
through my files for fiberglass kayak repair stuff seems a better use
of my time.  I hope something below helps you or someone else.

The bible on the subject seems to be "The Fiberglass Boat Repair
Manual" by Allan H. Vaitses.  Note that it focuses on big boat, not
wee lil' craft like kayaks.  But much of the material is, for all
intents and purposes, the same.  You can just ignore the parts on
rapairing your 30 foot ocean going fishing boat after it plowed into a
left over WWII era floating mine.  When I got my copy, I had never
seen one in any of the major bookstore chains (so I think I went the
Amazon or B&N on-line route).  This summer, I've seen at least one
copy in a Borders store and another in a Barnes & Noble.

Another good book is "The Essential Outdoor Gear Manual" by Annie and
David Getchell.  It covers care and repair for lots of different types
of outdoor recreation gear.  Given that, you might not want to pop for
a copy.  If so, try to scare one up from your local library (even if
through a libary loan).  This is what I wound up doing.  You would
want to copy chapters 15, 16, 17, 19 along with appendix G.

Bennett Marine Video has a very nice 3-volume videotape set called
"Cosmetic Gelcoat & Fiberglass Repair".  Nice hands-on, low
intidimidation factor style to it.  For the type of maintenance you're
talking about (i.e., no fist-sized holes punched in the hull), you can
probably get away with just Vol. 1 (Basic Gelcoat Repair & Finishing).
Vol 2. (Stress Cracks, Air Voids & Fractures) gets into the more
structural stuff.  Vol. 3 is a shorter tape that repeats info
contained in Vol 1. (on color matching and finishing).  Bennett Marine
is either on-line or has and easy access 800 number.  You can also
find the tapes at various other marine supply companies with a web
presence, although determining that the item listed is, in fact, the
tape you want proved diffifult when I was tracking down copies.  I
believe I purchased from Bennett directly.

And finally, here are some entries from my browser's bookmark file:

 - 3M Marine Refinish, Repair, and Maintenance Systems
    http://www.3m.com/US/auto_marine_aero/marine/
 - Fiberglass Repair -- Gelcoat tips
    http://www.fiberglass-repair.com/rshop3.html
 - Gelcoat Repair [McLaughlin Boat Works]
    http://www.iod95.com/gelcoat_repair.htm
 - Gel Coat Repairs [Aquaskier]
    http://aquaskier.com/articles/gel_coat_repair.htm
 - Maintenance and Repair of Fiberglass Kayaks [Wes Boyd's Kayak Place]
    http://my.dmci.net/~wesboyd/fixglass.htm

Happy maintenance :-)

-.- jwd
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From: James W. Durkin <jwd_at_phonogram.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 00:46:42 -0500
On Thu, Aug 01, 2002 at 12:04:59AM -0500, James W. Durkin wrote:

> On Wed, Jul 31, 2002 at 10:06:51PM -0400, Tom LeTourneau wrote:

>> Is there a good repair book for composite boats that's current
>> (I've found two 20 year old books listed online)?

> It's 12:30 in the morning and I ought to be in bed, but digging
> through my files for fiberglass kayak repair stuff seems a better
> use of my time.  I hope something below helps you or someone else.

... snip ...

> And finally, here are some entries from my browser's bookmark file:

Missed this one somehow.  Nice lil' four-page PDF file on various
aspects of kayak repair and maintenance.  At least it'll print out
better than the average web page :-)

http://www.kayaknevada.org/maint.pdf

-.- jwd


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From: <knelson_at_actionpoint.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 10:39:32 -0700
writes:

 " Like a new car owner, I haven't gotten over the jitters of watching 
every little ding and scratch appear, especially on the hull during rescue 
and rolling practice. Is there a good repair book for composite boats 
that's current (I've found two 20 year old books listed online)? Can a 
good grade wax keep the deck somewhat protected? Should it be used on the 
hull? (I know someone's laughing out loud now :)Tom LeTourneau"

Learn to do a sculling entry and exit. It really does eliminate a lot of 
cosmetic damage. After grinding a 6 inch scratch in my brand new kevlar 
hull, I was very motivated. 303 works great for UV protection and is easy 
to apply. As far as books go; try a fiberglass store like TAP Plastics. 
They have up to date information on the subject and a lot of free 
handouts. Or you can swear softly and smear on the epoxy like I do. TAP 
markets a great marine glue that can be used as a paste, dries in 5 
minutes (sure it does) and works under water (yes it does, I've tried it) and sands like 
wood. It should be painted as it's UV sensitive but frankly I think the 
boat will fall apart first.
Kevin

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From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Thu, 01 Aug 2002 14:01:26 -0400
At 10:39 AM 8/1/02 -0700, knelson_at_actionpoint.com wrote:
>writes:
>
>  " Like a new car owner, I haven't gotten over the jitters of watching
>every little ding and scratch appear, especially on the hull during rescue
>and rolling practice. Is there a good repair book for composite boats
>that's current (I've found two 20 year old books listed online)? Can a
>good grade wax keep the deck somewhat protected? Should it be used on the
>hull? (I know someone's laughing out loud now :)Tom LeTourneau"
>
>Learn to do a sculling entry and exit.

A sculling entry and exit?  What's that?

>It really does eliminate a lot of
>cosmetic damage. After grinding a 6 inch scratch in my brand new kevlar
>hull, I was very motivated.

I put a 6 inch scratch on the stern deck within 15 minutes of first launch 
of the mahogany S&G boat I built. Not intentionally, of course, but it 
served as a reminder that I had just spent the last 3 months building a 
boat, not a piece of furniture.  I've had my new cedar strip boat in the 
water for a little over a month and it's quite a few "defects" already, 
mostly paddle scrape marks from rolling it.


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From: Sid Taylor <tayls_at_snowcrest.net>
subject: [Paddlewise] FLOAT LOG PACIFIC BAJA CALIFORNIA
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 22:17:35 -0700
I have just completed a tour from Punta Baja to Santa Rosalillita on the
Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico.

A Float Plan and Float Log is available.

Let me know if you're interested and I will send you a copy.  It ain't
literature but there may be some information useful to anyone contemplating
a similar tour.

Sid Taylor


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From: <knelson_at_actionpoint.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 13:47:51 -0700
My damage came from a rock I failed to see. Sure heard it though! That's 
why I will never build a stripper. It would break my heart to have that 
happen and it would of course.

Sculling entry.... the way it was taught to me is simply to use your 
paddle as an outrigger in deeper water ( enough to clear rocks etc.) Your 
paddle will not touch bottom. It provides enough stability if you're 
quick, have a good sense of balance, and can minimally scull in this 
circumstance.  Frankly since I did some additional cockpit work I find it 
difficult to place my legs on either side of a foam deck reinforcement 
quickly and I'm sure I look like a seriously demented spider; but in a 
standard keyhole cockpit it's not bad.

 Now the exit is just a wee bit harder and I still get wetter than I'd 
like. Just reverse the previous entry moves and your set. My problem is 
that I'm usually too tired to do it well and I tend to misjudge the depth. 
I get my butt out OK, but when I throw a leg down it always tends to be 
deeper than I thought and sometimes seriously slippery. 

I sometimes think about doing this in a Klepper. Jump in, jump out. I 
wanted a cool looking Greenland style boat and that what I got. 

Kevin 



At 10:39 AM 8/1/02 -0700, knelson_at_actionpoint.com wrote:
>writes:


A sculling entry and exit?  What's that?

>It really does eliminate a lot of
>cosmetic damage. After grinding a 6 inch scratch in my brand new kevlar
>hull, I was very motivated.

I put a 6 inch scratch on the stern deck within 15 minutes of first launch 

of the mahogany S&G boat I built. Not intentionally, of course, but it 
served as a reminder that I had just spent the last 3 months building a 
boat, not a piece of furniture.  I've had my new cedar strip boat in the 
water for a little over a month and it's quite a few "defects" already, 
mostly paddle scrape marks from rolling it.





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From: Keith W Robertson <news_at_fachwen.org>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 08:35:08 +0100
on 2/8/02 1:55 am, PaddleWise at owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net wrote:

A boat without scratches is a boat that hasn't been used ;-)

Keith

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From: <knelson_at_actionpoint.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 07:34:07 -0700
Keith wrote:

on 2/8/02 1:55 am, PaddleWise at owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net wrote:

"A boat without scratches is a boat that hasn't been used ;-)"

There is only one way around this! We have to become modelers and every kayak we love has it's own 1/3rd 
scale model mirror image. It stays in perfect shape while we have 
adventures with it's big brother. 

THEN........you give the model to your little ones to paddle. Doesn't hurt 
at all.

Kevin

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From: Tom LeTourneau <tletourn_at_maine.rr.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 2002 10:52:56 -0400
True enough...

But a boat that hasn't been properly cared for... is a foolish waste of money!


>A boat without scratches is a boat that hasn't been used ;-)
>
>
>Keith

Tom LeTourneau
Wells, Maine

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From: <KiAyker_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 22:51:03 EDT
In a message dated 8/2/2002 7:53:52 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
tletourn_at_maine.rr.com writes:


> But a boat that hasn't been properly cared for... is a foolish waste of 
> money!
> 

   A pampered kayak is a waste of money. I try really hard to use my boats 
up! I might not get as much back in the resale, but I know I have gotten a 
whole lot more then my money's worth from the experience.

Scott
So.Cal.

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From: Scott <sc_at_gci.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 19:33:03 -0800
a good boat, PROPERLY cared for, SHOULD LAST A LIFETIME! Who wants to sell a
boat?? You should have a flotilla!

My Eddyline is a '93. Red deck, scratches galore - newly re-gelcoated
hull....I still get compliments EVERYTIME I take it out....

'NUFF SAID....

Scott Simpson
Anchorage Alaska

"There is always one more thing you can do to influence any situation"
Lt. Gen Harold Moore, USA (Ret)

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From: Steve Scherrer <flatpick_at_teleport.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 06:17:02 -0700
I just finished a 4 day intermediate course _at_ Deception Pass in Washington
where we *played* in 5.1 knot currents with clients in new shiny boats
bumping into granite and barnicals.  Everyone of 'em had a handful of new
scratches and gouges by the end of the trip.  It comes with the territory.
Funny thing is they were ALL  proud of the scratches and the one fellow who
really dinged his Caribou (needing Marine tex repair) was the coolest!

Scratches mean you're using it!

steve


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From: <KiAyker_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 00:11:43 EDT
In a message dated 8/2/2002 8:36:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time, sc_at_gci.net 
writes:


> a good boat, PROPERLY cared for, SHOULD LAST A LIFETIME! Who wants to sell a
> boat?? You should have a flotilla!

   Actually, I've never sold a kayak. I've given a few away, and I've had a 
couple stolen. I was just trying to speculate as to what it was these more 
anal types were so concerned about with their boats. And just what qualifies 
as "PROPERLY" caring for your boat? I crash my boat into rocks, and bang it 
against docks, and drag it along the beach. Hell, I use my boat for teaching 
classes! Sure, I could use the company's boats, but why would I want to? 
Whatever damage I do to my boat, I'm sure I can fix.

> 
> My Eddyline is a '93. Red deck, scratches galore - newly re-gelcoated
> hull....I still get compliments EVERYTIME I take it out....

   Good for you! I've never even bothered to remove the black type from the 
PVC pipe I used to make the grab loops. I'm not looking for compliments. I'm 
more interested in performance and being able to enjoy the sport without 
having to base my decisions on whether or not I might get a scratch in my 
boat. I guess this is a classic case of different strokes for different folks 
:-) 

Scott
So.Cal.

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From: <knelson_at_captivasoftware.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 2002 14:12:50 -0700
wrote:
I just finished a 4 day intermediate course _at_ Deception Pass in Washington
where we *played* in 5.1 knot currents with clients in new shiny boats
bumping into granite and barnicals.  Everyone of 'em had a handful of new
scratches and gouges by the end of the trip.  It comes with the territory.
Funny thing is they were ALL  proud of the scratches and the one fellow 
who
really dinged his Caribou (needing Marine tex repair) was the coolest!

Scratches mean you're using it!

steve

Yea that happens and it's a good thing because why else are we there? 
Somewhere a long time ago I heard that a man is the sum total of his 
scars. To be sure that did not mean just the physical. I have an old 
Chouinard bamboo shaft ice axe. I can tell you the history of every ding 
on it, every mountain I ever took it on, and the memories are good. Got a 
few on me too, and I can tell you how they came to be there. Most good, 
but not all. It's a road map of your life, and your soul too I suppose, 
and good, or bad, they're yours, just like your kayak, and mine too. But I 
will tell anyone who cares to listen, I don't want no flamin' scratches on 
my strip built, and you don't ever ever ever drag my SOF through the sand. 
This polite forum forbids me to express my feelings about dragging kayaks 
through rocks. Now that I have that off my chest I'll return to my usual 
controlled self.

Kevin
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From: Shawn Baker <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 14:37:53 -0700 (PDT)
Kevin Nelson wrote:
>But I will tell anyone who cares to listen, I don't want no flamin'
scratches on my strip built, 

If it comes down to the choice, I'll scratch my strip built rather than
my person 100 times out of 100.

>you don't ever ever ever drag my SOF through the sand. 
>This polite forum forbids me to express my feelings about dragging 
kayaks through rocks. 

There's a difference between use and abuse.  If you can reasonably
avoid it, and still do the damage, it's abuse.  If you're out having
fun with it, and stuff happens, that's use, and experience for the
paddler. It's all worth it in the grand scheme of things.  Again,
dif'rent strokes for dif'rent folks.

Shawn

Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com
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From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Tue, 06 Aug 2002 18:13:29 -0400
Shawn Baker wrote:
> 
> Kevin Nelson wrote:
> >But I will tell anyone who cares to listen, I don't want no flamin'
> scratches on my strip built,
> 
> If it comes down to the choice, I'll scratch my strip built rather than
> my person 100 times out of 100.

Reminds me of my first trip in a new WW canoe, lining up to run Edge of
the World, a Class IV on the Amicolola River in North Georgia. "Let's
see, where will I need to be to ensure I don't put any scratches on my
new hull?  What am I saying? Where do I need to be to ensure I don't put
any scratches on my helmet?!"

-- 
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA
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From: Aaron White <aaronwhite_at_mn.rr.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 23:12:21 -0500
My Current Designs Extreme is about two months old and has 
already taken a pretty good beating to the deck and hull.  At about 
the two year mark I imagine it will sink.  I guess you can count me 
in the "drive it, er, I mean 'paddle it' like ya ain't got a dime in it" 
club.  :-)  
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From: <knelson_at_captivasoftware.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Fiberglass jitters- deck and hull upkeep
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 05:24:01 -0700
Easily, Steve having mashed a helmet to pulp once instead of my head. 
Unfortunately the vehicle didn't fare much better than the helmet.

I missed Shawns E due to a change in systems, but given the choice I would 
choose the boat too, but knowing all  this in advance of course,  I'd rent 
a plastic boat instead. I still don't want no flamin' scratches in my strip built. 
Kevin 

writes:

Shawn Baker wrote:
> 
> Kevin Nelson wrote:
> >But I will tell anyone who cares to listen, I don't want no flamin'
> scratches on my strip built,
> 
> If it comes down to the choice, I'll scratch my strip built rather than
> my person 100 times out of 100.

Reminds me of my first trip in a new WW canoe, lining up to run Edge of
the World, a Class IV on the Amicolola River in North Georgia. "Let's
see, where will I need to be to ensure I don't put any scratches on my
new hull?  What am I saying? Where do I need to be to ensure I don't put
any scratches on my helmet?!"

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